You have a number of options when searching for accommodation. Your choice might be determined by location, access to public transport or cost. You may wish to consider sharing a property or look to find a property for you and your family.
House share
www.spareroom.co.uk lists properties where you can rent a room. Many include bills, utilities and some basic furniture. Some of these are owner occupied and have live-in landlords. Others have a live-out landlord and are also referred to as Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO)
Whole property rentals
The websites below list all properties available. They often go quickly so looking often and acting fast is essential. Rental agencies don’t always remove properties from their websites quickly once they have been let, so contacting the agency to check what is available is recommended.
- OpenRent | Property To Rent From Private Landlords
- Rightmove - UK's number one property website for properties for sale and to rent
- OnTheMarket | Property, Houses & Flats for Sale & to Rent
- Property for Sale & to Rent | Find Your Dream Home | PrimeLocation
- Zoopla > Search Property to Buy, Rent, House Prices, Estate Agents
You should understand your rights before renting a property. Advice and guidance can be sought from the UK citizens advice bureau and information is available on their website Your rights when you rent from a private landlord - Citizens Advice.
Renting with a colleague - Landlords and agents will consider 2 individuals sharing a rental property. Very few properties are available for occupation by several unrelated tenants i.e. a group of friends/colleagues wishing to rent together.
Renting for family occupation – your family’s size will directly affect the properties that agents and landlords will accept you making an application for.
When looking at property adverts you should consider,
- The monthly rental amount – Landlords use an affordability scale; tenant’s must be able to show an income that exceeds 2.5 times the rental cost.
- The minimum rental term or contract length
- The deposit required by the Landlord/Agent (many are the equivalent of 5 weeks rent)
- The initial rent to be paid (e.g. 1 months rent in advance)
- What the advertised cost includes, most rentals will be unfurnished.
- What additional utilities costs you will be expected to pay.
Agents will ask you to complete an application, all applications for a property rental are examined by the landlord and they select the tenant.
www.Rightmove.co.uk is a good starting point, it lists properties and names which agents are advertising them. Once you’ve found a property you are interested in go to that agents own website, use their own website to get their number. When calling the agents ask to speak to someone on the lettings desk.
Useful hints and tips
- Create a book/notepad, where you write down the all the details is essential, it’s very easy to lose track of which agent you spoken to on which day and important should you need to make follow up calls to them.
- Ask to register your interest. They will need to know your budget, the size of the property i.e. number of bedrooms and the locations you are seeking the property in.
- Ask for their email address and ask then to clarify what registering will mean. Will you get emails with properties suitable price/location? will they call you? or are you expected to contact them if so how frequently?
- They will usually email you a registration document. This registration is also likely to want to know your annual salary/income.
- If you see properties in an area where you would like to live but not a suitable property, it is worth contacting that agent and registering, they may have future properties that suit your requirements.
- Register with as many agents as you can.
It’s important to remember that for both house shares and house/flat rentals
- If you are offered a viewing, go as quickly as you can, properties will be shown to a number of potential tenants
- Being really honest with the agents/landlords will save you both time. Confirming your new in the UK, and therefore don’t have a credit history in the UK is essential. You should also explain that you have secured a role in the NHS which should overcome the lack of credit history.
- The quickest turnaround from being accepted as a potential tenant to moving into the property is at least 2 weeks, they will complete checks and references. Speak to the agent and discuss how quickly they can complete their checks.
- For house shares deposit values are shown on the adverts listed on Spareroom.co.uk
- When searching consider your travel distances, Google maps is great at planning travel using different modes of transport and Plan Your Journey | Traveline is good when using bus routes.
- Private rentals are most likely to be unfurnished, with limited kitchen appliances included, check exactly what is included by speaking to the agent and taking notes when viewing properties.
The main steps when you find a property you’d like to rent are,
- Obtain a share code. You need your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) for this. View and prove your immigration status: get a share code - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
- Apply to rent the property – the agent will take details to supply to the landlord.
- If successful, pay a holding deposit (usually one week’s rent)
- The agent will begin referencing. Your employer will be asked to confirm your salary and that you are a permanent employee. You are likely to be asked for bank details and a payslip.
- Once referencing is successful you will need to pay a deposit (usually five week’s rent and one month’s rent in advance). In the UK rent is paid monthly in advance.